Introduction to Poetic Drama
In the twentieth century, there has been a resurgence of poetic drama.
Notable poets like Yeats and Eliot contributed significantly to this revival.
This movement was a reaction against the prose plays of Shaw and others, which lacked emotional depth and moral engagement.
Yeats and the Return to Tradition
Yeats opposed the harsh criticism of liberal ideas by revolutionary dramatists like Shaw.
He believed that past civilizations had higher traditions than the contemporary era.
The drama of ideas was failing to capture the essence of the age, while the drama of entertainment was becoming uninteresting.
There was a need for a revival of realistic drama infused with fresh perspectives.
The 1930s and 1940s Revival Efforts
During the 1930s and 1940s, poets attempted to revive the tradition of poetic drama that had been dormant since the Restoration period.
This revival had a closer connection with the authors' religious beliefs and social attitudes than most prose dramas of the time.
T. S. Eliot's Contributions to Poetic Drama
The Rock and Murder in the Cathedral
The Rock was a pageant play written by T. S. Eliot to raise funds for building new London churches.
Murder in the Cathedral is a proper play commemorating the death of St. Thomas Becket.
The play features a chorus of Canterbury women and presents St. Thomas as a symbolic character.
The primary action is St. Thomas triumphing over various temptations in his mind.
The play is more of a commemorative ritual than a traditional drama.
The Family Reunion
The Family Reunion deals with the return of Harry, Lord Monchensey, to his ancestral home.
Harry is haunted by the idea of having killed his wife and is plagued by hallucinations of Furies.
His aunt Agatha reveals that these hallucinations stem from his father's desire to kill his mother.
Harry believes the Furies are instruments of purification and decides to leave his home, leading to his mother's death.
The play captures the tones and rhythms of contemporary speech, making it more realistic.
The Cocktail Party
The Cocktail Party explores themes of self-deception among well-meaning people.
The play begins with a cocktail party, where the husband is unaware of all the guests.
A psychiatrist guest reveals the husband and wife’s infidelities and advises them to lower their expectations for a successful marriage.
The play blends humor and drama, making it engaging and relatable.
The husband’s mistress becomes a missionary and martyr, while her lover joins the film industry.
Other Notable Poetic Dramatists
Stephen Spender
Stephen Spender wrote The Trial of a Judge, a play about a judge caught between Fascists and Communists.
The judge embodies abstract justice and permanent human values.
The play effectively conveys emotional tones under strong feelings.
W. H. Auden and Christopher Isherwood
W. H. Auden and Christopher Isherwood collaborated on verse and prose plays.
The Dog Beneath the Skin is a satirical farce, while The Ascent of F6 and Across the Frontier deal with modern problems through symbolism.
Christopher Fry
Christopher Fry is known for his verse comedies, such as A Phoenix Too Frequent, The Lady’s Not for Burning, and Venus Observed.
His plays feature a wealth of language reminiscent of Shakespeare, though they often lack coherent structure.
